A nasty storm hit the Belmont Park area on Tuesday, but the sun will be shining on Thursday afternoon as the undefeated Awesome Feather is the headliner in the $85,000 Nasty Storm Stakes, a one mile dirt race that drew a field of seven.

Awesome Feather won the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) to cap off a perfect two-year-old campaign where she won all six of her starts.

Since then she has only managed to make three starts thanks to a few physical issues that included a bowed tendon.

The Chad Brown trainee is back in action Thursday afternoon as the 4-5 morning line favorite, making her first start since winning the Sunshine Millions Distaff in January at Gulfstream Park to run her career mark to a perfect 9 for 9.

A strong performance this afternoon will likely send her to the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1) on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita Park.

The co-feature on Thursday’s card is the $85,000 Given, which drew a full field of 12 along with a couple of also-eligibles.

The one mile turf event is led by the Chad Brown trained Pianist (3-1), who makes her stakes debut for the barn off a smart looking win against first level allowance foes on Aug. 23 at Saratoga.

Analysis: Cash for Clunkers was badly outrun last out, but she was trying to get 1 1/4 miles in the Del 'Cap (G2). She is better going one turn and was a game second two back going a one turn route in a runner up finish to It's Tricky in the Ogden Phipps (G1). She owns solid early and mid pace numbers and is the logical one to win this if Awesome feather is not fully cranked.

Awesome Feather is making her first start since winning the Sunshine Millions Distaff at Gulfstream Park back in January to run her record to a perfect 9 for 9. She has one start over the main track here, a victory in the Le Slew going seven furlongs which was off a 11 month layoff. The Chad Brown barn is 36% winners (with a +ROI) with horses coming back off a +180 day layoff. She will tough here but I doubt she goes off near her 4-5 morning line, she figures to be lighter.

Analysis: Aluara Michele came off the bench to win the Nani Rose two back and then last out checked in third in the Riskaverse. She broke through the gate and was under a strong hold to avoid running off. She then broke well for real and was in the mix heading for home and could not sustain her run. She looks like a good fit here as she makes her third start of her current form cycle for the hall of fame Mott barn.

Medolina set the early fractions and held on well until late, weakening inside the final 16th to finish fourth, beaten two lengths for the top spot. The winner was Stephanie's Kitten, winner of the '11 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G2). She drops into a softer spot here and the cut back to a mile suits.